The Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA), has in the wake of Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah’s death, directed that all players in the ongoing Babatem/Anambra FA All Stars Football Competition must wear black armbands as a mark of respect for him.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Ralph Chidozie George, FA board member and head of its Media committee.
Quoted Chief Chikelue Iloenyosi a.k.a. ‘General’, ANSFA chairman, by the statement: “We will continue to mourn our late former Chairman, Senator Ubah and players will wear black arm bands during the remaining games of the Babatem All Stars Tournament.
“Our thoughts are with his family, I have spoken to the Wife and many stakeholders of the game in our State and everyone is in deep mourning, and so we will do everything to honor him”.
“His family has promised to keep us posted on their plans towards a befitting burial and we will surely play our own part to honor a man who was one of the greatest philanthropists of football in our State.
“In addition to players wearing black arm bands in the remaining matches, we have also agreed that a minute silence must be observed in the matches billed for this weekend”.
ANSFA also outlined its plan to pay more respect to its former Chairman during the remaining matches of the Babatem/Anambra State FA All Stars Tournament which is in the group stage.
Chairman of the Organising Committee and Vice Chairman of ANSFA, Chief Victor Aniekwena ‘Ifeadigo’ said “we can never honor him enough going by what he did for the game in our State”.
Added he: “We will seek more ways to keep honoring his name and football legacies and we expect even the NLO, NPFL and NFF to follow suit because he touched all with his sponsorships”.
Dr. Ubah died, a former Chairman of ANSFA for four Years, died in London at the age of 52. He was also the owner of the defunct NPFL, later NNL side, FC Ifeanyi Ubah.
